Candidate Blasted For Traffic Plan

FORT LAUDERDALE -- City Commission candidate Cary Keno may be making Las Olas Isles residents happy with his stand on a traffic plan, but he has angered people in nearby neighborhoods.

He also has angered his District 2 opponent, Sheila Harrigan, who said he has lied about her position on the traffic plan.

Meanwhile, residents on both sides of the issue, trying to show they can work together, have planned a rally for 4 p.m. today in front of St. Anthony`s Catholic Church, 901 NE Second St.

``We are under the impression that he is telling them one thing and us another,`` said Paul Urschalitz, a resident of the Holiday/Victoria Park area. ``The rally is being staged to object to politicians pitting one neighborhood against another.``

Keno sent a letter to six representatives of Las Olas Isles area civic associations, saying he supported the re-opening of Southeast 17th Avenue at Las Olas Boulevard to northbound traffic, the re-opening of Southeast 16th Avenue at Broward Boulevard to southbound traffic and leaving Southeast 15th Avenue as a two-way street.

Residents of Colee Hammock and Holiday/Victoria Park worked with city officials for about two years to get the traffic restrictions that Keno has suggested changing.

Keno said he did not intend to pit neighborhoods against each other.

``The traffic situation is pretty bad,`` he said. ``I looked at it and thought about what was best for everybody and stated my position without favoritism to one neighborhood, or the other. I didn`t anticipate people being so sharply divided.``

Las Olas Isles residents say the restrictions make it difficult for people in their area to travel between Las Olas and Broward boulevards. But residents of Holiday/Victoria Park and Colee Hammock say the removal of the restrictions would turn 16th and 17th avenues into raceways.

In his letter, Keno also said his opponent in Tuesday`s election was involved in talks to close 17th Avenue, and has advocated closing 16th Avenue to through traffic.

`He is saying things that simply aren`t true,`` Harrigan said.

In response, Harrigan sent a letter on Thursday telling Las Olas Isles residents that she favors keeping 16th and 17th avenues ``residential in character`` and letting 15th Avenue, which is ``commercial in character,`` accommodate the traffic flow.